Change of command

Lt. Col. Michael Kirkpatrick, right, accepts the guidon and command of the 71st Operations Support Squadron from Col. Darrell Judy, 71st Flying Training Wing commander, during a ceremony held April 17 at Vance AFB, Oklahoma. In the background is Master Sgt. Daira Hall, the 71st Operations Group first sergeant. (U.S. Air Force photo/ Terry Wasson)

Kirkpatrick takes command of the Ghostriders

Published April 19, 2017
71st Flying Training Wing Public Affairs

VANCE AIR FORCE BASE, Okla. -- Lt. Col. Michael Kirkpatrick accepted command of the 71st Operations Support Squadron during a change of command ceremony held April 17 in the Armed Forces Reserve Center on base.

Kirkpatrick replaced Lt. Col. Michael Drost, the commander since June 2015.

Col. Darrell Judy, the 71st Flying Training Wing commander, the ceremony official, presented Drost the Meritorious Service Medal.

Airman 1st Class Robin Sagun with the 71st OSS, sang the nation anthem. Chaplain (Lt. Col.) John Sackett gave the invocation.

Kirkpatrick, a command pilot with more than 3,400 flying hours in the C-130, served as the 71st FTW inspector general and a T-1 instructor pilot prior to taking command of the 71st OSS.

Drost, a command pilot with more than 2,600 hours in the F-16 and T-38, retired from Air Force active duty during a ceremony held in the Vance Club later in the day.